Dianthus

Dianthus:

see pinkpink,common name for some members of the Caryophyllaceae, a family of small herbs found chiefly in north temperate zones (especially the Mediterranean area) but with several genera indigenous to south temperate zones and high altitudes of tropical mountains......Click the link for more information..

carnation

carnation

Surprisingly sweet flower petals can be used in desserts. Cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Dianthus are like tiny carnations with a light clove-like or nutmeg scent. Use petals to add color and sweet taste to dishes and salads.

Dianthus

a genus of annual and perennial grasses, very rarely semishrubs, of the family Caryophyllaceae. The stems are slightly knotty. The leaves are opposite, sessile, linear, and lanceolate or subulate. The bracts are close to the calyx. The flowers (frequently beautiful, with a very pleasant scent) are pinnate and grow singly or in clusters. Approximately 300 species are known in Europe (mainly in the Mediterranean area), Asia, and Africa. In the USSR there are slightly more than 100 species growing in steppes, meadows, pine forests, sandy areas, and cliffs.

Maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides) is widely distributed throughout the European part of the USSR. Many varieties of Dianthus have long been cultivated as decorative plants. The best-known is the carnation (D. caryophyllus), which originated in southern Europe, A perennial, it served as a point of departure for the creation of many valuable garden varieties, grouped according to decorative qualities, biological peculiarities, and specific use. The solitary large flowers usually grow many to a stem, are fragrant, and come in various colors (red, pink, yellow, or white). They are cultivated in open ground; usually the Chaband (as annuals) and the grenadine carnations (as a two-year variety) are intended for picking. The Deptford pink is grown on protected ground to be used for cutting.

Sweet William (D. barbatus), a perennial that is cultivated as a biennial, is native to central and southern Europe. Its small flowers grow in dense racemes, either simple or double, and in various colors among the garden forms and varieties; there are also red-leaf forms. Sweet William is used in flower gardens and for cutting.

Pheasant’s-eye pink (D. plumaris), a perennial that originated in the Alps, comes in a number of shapes and varieties, basically hybrid, with simple or double highly fragrant flowers. It is cultivated in flower gardens and for cutting.

Chinese pink (D. chinensis) is an annual that apparently originated in eastern China. The numerous garden types and varieties, especially the heddewigii varieties (D. chinensis heddewiggi) are distinguished by original, motley coloring of the simple and double scentless flowers. Many species of perennial Dianthus are planted in alpine gardens and stony plots. Traditionally, red carnations are a symbol of revolution.

The Russian word for Dianthus, gvozdika, is also the name for the spice obtained from dried buds of the clove tree.

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